Liberia: BIN, Ex-Police Officers Arrested for Harassment

At least three officers of the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization (BIN) along with a deactivated police officer have been arrested in connection with harassment, illegal inspection, and impersonation respectively.

The arrested officers are Captain James Sibley of the BIN trafficking department, Capt. Randolph Thompson, BIN Intelligence, Capt. Benedict Sandy, and Joe Sibley a deactivated police officer. The four suspects are currently in detention waiting to be sent to court.

According to Acting BIN Commissioner, Robert Buddy, the four criminal suspects were arrested by BIN's Special Task Force Unit that was authorized to monitor the movement of officers.

Commissioner Buddy said the suspects were operating under the pretense of inspecting alien documents, but were tracked down while allegedly harassing and extorting money from a businessman at the AI Business Store in Waterside.

Security personnel especially from BIN and LNP have been booked on several occasions for allegedly extorting money from individuals especially during Christmas and New Year seasons.

It is against this background that Police Director Chris Massaquoi, upon taking over the LNP in 2011, issued a stern warning against officers who are bent begging for Christmas from top officials and business people.

Director Massaquoi told Police officers at a general assembly in December 2011 that it was an embarrassment for an officer who is paid for performing his duties to beg for Christmas.

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